How do you borrow numbers when you add mixed numbers with different denominators?

Question

4 1/8 + 5 + 4 1/8+ 15 3/4 +15 3/4 +10 1/2 The anwser is 55 1/4. I need to see the work on how to do this specific problem only.

Answer 1

You must get them to a common base: In this case, the greatest common divisor is 8, so represent everything in eighths:

Original:
4 1/8 + 5 + 4 1/8+ 15 3/4 +15 3/4 +10 1/2

Converted:
4 1/8 + 5 + 4 1/8 + 15 6/8 + 15 6/8 + 10 4/8

Now look at the fractional parts separately:
4 + 5 + 4 + 15 + 15 + 10 + (1/8) + (1/8) + (6/8) + (6/8) + (4/8)

That is:
53 + (18/8)

Now reduce the improper fraction if you have one:
53 + (9/4)
53 + (2 1/4)

Now just add the integer parts and leave the fraction:
55 1/4

Answer 2

You don't have to borrow any numbers. Just convert the numbers in the least common denominator. So 10 1/2 becomes 10 4/8; and 15 3/4 becomes 15 6/8. Add from there.

Once you get 8/8, add it as a 1 into the whole numbers. So if, say, you had 2 5/8 + 1 4/8, you would get 4 1/8 (since the fraction was 9/8; you just take out the 8, and leave the last 1).

Answer 3

make them all improper
13/8 + 5 + 13/8 + 63/4 + 63/4 + 21/2

then get a common denominator
13/8 + 40/8 + 13/8 + 126/8 + 126/8 + 84/8

add everything together
402/8

simplify
55 1/4